Line Within Line: An Intertextual Analysis of Mormon Scripture and the Prologue of the Gospel of John

• Main Author: Frederick, Nicholas J
• Format: Dissertation
• Language: English
• Published: ProQuest Dissertations & Theses 01.01.2013
• Subjects: Biblical studies; Comparative literature; Foucault, Michel; Kristeva, Julia (1941- ); Plotinus (205-70); Religion; Religious history
• ISBN: 1303017393; 9781303017391

This study advances a new paradigm for interpreting the body of literature produced by Joseph Smith and understood by him to have divine origins, namely the texts known today as the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants. Additionally, this study establishes the groundwork for an intertextual analysis of Smith's corpus with the Prologue of the Gospel of John. This study will suggest that Smith composed his "scripture" through a detailed "deconstruction" and "reconstruction" of the Bible, and that in doing so a dialogue was created between the Bible and Smith's own "restoration scripture." Significantly, by utilizing passages from the Johannine Prologue in various ways, various levels of dialogue were also created. This study suggests that these differing levels of dialogues can be classified in four ways: Rhetorical, Balanced, Expanded, and Inverted. This dissertation investigates where and how differing levels of dialogue are present within "restoration scripture." First, a detailed analysis of the 54 places where the Prologue of John appears in the Book of Mormon suggests both a "Rhetorical Dialogue" and a "Balanced Dialogue" are present within that text, with a few occurrences of an "Expanded Dialogue." Second, a detailed analysis of the 62 places where the Prologue of John is integrated into the text of Joseph Smith's "revelations" suggests that the primary dialogues present in the Doctrine and Covenants are a "Balanced Dialogue" and an "Expanded Dialogue," while a "Rhetorical Dialogue" is also present, although to a smaller extent than in the Book of Mormon. Third, a detailed analysis of the most significant usage of the Johannine Prologue by Joseph Smith, section 93, is warranted due to section 93 being the only occurrence of an "Inverted Dialogue" within the scope of this study. Finally, this study will conclude with an analysis of the data and information as well as offering some remarks on the future significance of this type of study within Mormon studies.